Woman Sentenced In Killing, Dismemberment Of Toms River Man

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Seaside Heights woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for her role in the July killing and dismemberment of the owner of a Toms River home where she harbored a man sought in a murder case, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.

Elizabeth C. Mascarelli, 29, will have to serve 85 percent of the sentence — 21 years, 3 months — before she becomes eligible for parole under the sentence for aggravated manslaughter issued by Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

Mascarelli pleaded guilty on Dec. 9 to killing Kerry Rollason, 56, on or about July 3.

The killing was discovered as authorities investigated in the aftermath of a nearly seven-hour standoff at a home on Ravenwood Drive in Toms River where authorities were trying to arrest Maxwell A. Johnston, 35, in connection with the June 27 fatal shooting of Gabriella Caroleo, 25, of Manchester.

The July 5 standoff ended when Johnston shot himself to death in a bedroom at Rollason's home. Mascarelli, who remained in the house with Johnston during the standoff.

Mascarelli was arrested July 5, hours after she left the house, and was charged with harboring a fugitive when authorities learned Johnston had been staying with her for four days, despite her knowing that he was sought in the slaying of Caroleo.

As authorities continued to investigate they found photos of Maxwell and Mascarelli posing with the partially dismembered body of Rollason, her holding the handle of a hatchet stuck in Rollason's chest taken in the basement of the home.

Authorities later determined Rollason had been killed in the home sometime on July 3, and then dismembered and the parts of his body taken to a property in Jackson. On July 12 authorities found the parts in black plastic bags along with a hatchet, and on July 15 she was charged with hindering apprehension, desecration of human remains, being a certain person not to possess a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a defaced weapon.

The investigation later revealed Mascarelli was the person who killed Rollason and had conspired with Maxwell to do it, and she was indicted on Oct. 24 on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in addition to other charges.

Three others who were arrested in the killing of Rollason — Danielle M. Bolstad, 42, of Barnegat; Jared M. Krysiak, 34, of Brick Township, and Jarred Palumbo, 36, of Manchester — have since pleaded guilty as well.

Krysiak pled guilty on Dec. 16 to desecration of human remains and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 7.

Bolstad, who pleaded guilty to desecration of human remains, and Palumbo, who pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension, both on Jan. 13, are scheduled to be sentenced on March 14.

Previous coverage:

• Fugitive Sought In Fatal Shooting Of Woman, 25, In Manchester
• Manchester Fugitive Takes His Life, Ending Standoff In Toms River
• Woman Charged With Harboring Fugitive In Manchester Slaying In Toms River Standoff
• Fugitive In Toms River Standoff Killed, Dismembered Home's Owner: Prosecutor
• Woman, Fugitive Posed With Dismembered Body In Toms River Slaying: Affidavit
• Ocean County Man Sought In Dismemberment Of Toms River Man, Prosecutor Says
• Fugitive In Toms River Dismemberment Case Arrested
• Man Denies Helping Dismember Victim In Toms River Slaying, Says He Just Cleaned Up Blood
• Woman Indicted On Murder Charge In Toms River Dismemberment Case
• Woman Pleads Guilty In Toms River Dismemberment Slaying Uncovered After Standoff
• 2nd Defendant In Toms River Dismemberment Case Pleads Guilty
  
• Final 2 Defendants Admit Helping In Toms River Dismemberment Slaying